Real Madrid have reacted angrily to a news conference where the referee for Saturday’s Copa del Rey final broke down in tears at the pressure the club’s TV channel has put officials under.
However, they denied reports they were considering pulling out of Saturday’s Clasico encounter against Barcelona in Seville (21:00 BST kick-off).
Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who will referee the game, become the latest official to be attacked on Real Madrid TV this season.
A club video pointed out the win percentages of Barca and Real when the Spaniard has taken charge of their games, the fact he has never refereed in the Champions League or Fifa tournaments, and supposed mistakes the 39-year-old has made.
An emotional De Burgos Bengoetxea said: “When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up.
“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson.”
Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, who will be the video assistant referee (VAR) for the final, also spoke out against Real Madrid TV.
But the 15-time European champions later refused to take part in pre-match activities, boycotting an open training session and press conference.
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said: “Real Madrid told the RFEF they will not take part in the press conference or the official training session looking forward to the [final].”
